West Sussex Scaffolding recently completed the installation of a specialist chimney access scaffold at a residential property on Silverdale Road in Burgess Hill. The scaffold was designed to provide safe, practical access for chimney repointing while carefully accommodating the property’s existing fire escape routes.
Every chimney scaffold presents its own challenges, and this project required a thoughtful approach to ensure both safe working access and compliance with site-specific access requirements. The result was a bespoke scaffold structure that allowed the repointing contractor full access to all areas of the chimney while maintaining clear routes around the building.
The project began with the erection of a chimney access tower measuring approximately 1.4 metres in width and extending to a height of 6.5 metres. Working platforms were installed at the required lifts, each providing a generous five-board-deep working area, allowing operatives sufficient space for tools, materials and safe movement while carrying out the repointing works.
As the scaffold height increased, the configuration was adapted to suit the building layout and access restrictions. Above the initial tower section, the scaffold widened to 4.0 metres at both the fourth and fifth lifts, reaching heights of approximately 7.0 metres and 9.0 metres respectively. This change in dimensions was necessary to provide complete access around the chimney stack while ensuring the scaffold remained clear of designated fire escape routes at lower levels.
To complete the access arrangement, a further 4.0-metre-long scaffold lift was installed to the rear of the chimney. This section was constructed at approximately 8.0 metres high and provided an additional five-board-deep working platform. The rear elevation scaffold enabled safe access to areas of the chimney that could not be reached from the main tower alone, ensuring all repointing work could be carried out efficiently and without restriction.
As with all our scaffold installations, safety remained the primary consideration throughout the project.
Each working platform was fitted with double handrails to provide enhanced collective fall protection for operatives working at height. Fixed ladder access was installed to allow safe movement between lifts, while a safety ladder gate was incorporated at access points to help prevent falls through ladder openings.
Where scaffold standards were positioned at ground level within accessible areas, foam protection was fitted to reduce the risk of accidental contact. Tread-a-plates were also installed where required to provide secure pedestrian access and maintain safe movement around the scaffold structure.
The completed scaffold provided a stable, secure working environment throughout the chimney repointing project, allowing tradespeople to work safely and effectively at height.
By adapting the scaffold layout as the structure increased in height, our team was able to overcome the challenges created by the property’s fire escape requirements while still delivering complete access to the chimney from all necessary elevations.
The scaffold remained in place for a six-week hire period, providing the contractor with uninterrupted access throughout the repointing works. The total hire and installation cost for this project was £1,200.
At West Sussex Scaffolding, we regularly design and install bespoke chimney scaffolds for maintenance, repair and restoration projects across Burgess Hill and the surrounding areas. Whether access is required for repointing, chimney repairs or roofline works, our experienced team can provide a safe and practical scaffold solution tailored to the specific requirements of the property.
Choosing a reliable scaffolding company means working with a team that understands the area’s properties, access challenges and safety requirements. Whether your scaffold project is residential or commercial, our Burgess Hill scaffolding specialists deliver reliable access solutions at competitive prices and with a professional service.
Not every scaffolding project takes place on the outside of a property. We also provide specialist access solutions for sensitive indoor environments where careful planning and minimal disruption are essential. Take a look at an internal scaffold for pipe removal at a Pulborough care home to see how we safely erected an 8-metre-high tower inside an occupied nursing home while working under strict noise restrictions and maintaining safe access for residents and staff throughout the project.
